Interpretive Summary: Materials made of starch were produced to exhibit an electrical conductive property that is at least 1000 times its normal value. Starch is com- pounded on an extruder with metal halide salts such as sodium chloride. Conductive starch materials have an advantage over other conductive polymers because their properties, both mechanical and electrical, may be tailored to specific applications. They can also be processed into a final form with ease. The conductive starch materials may be used for medical or energy applications.

Technical Abstract:
Plasticized starch was extruded with metal halides to produce a fast ion conducting material. The metal halide salts were dissolved in a water/ glycerol solution and combined with the starch during processing. From an initial conductivity of 10 to the minus eleventh S/cm, the plasticized starch materials obtained conductivities up to 10 to the minus sixth S/cm. There was a plasticizing effect on the mechanical properties of the materials containing metal halides.